06 September 2007

Flying In Organic Food - Pro and Con

No: "The trade of fruit and vegetables from Africa to the UK accounts for only 0.1% of all the UK's emissions. Many poor people in Africa depend on that trade, so, for them, banning organic air freight means fewer children in schools, no investment in small businesses, less development of the economy and more poverty."

Yes: "Farmers in the developing world may have a sense of security from exporting fresh produce, but air-freighting will soon become economically unsustainable as the demand for oil starts to outstrip supply. Farmers in Kenya who are growing organically are becoming almost entirely reliant on air freight to sell their goods. In the short term, that will bring some development benefits but it is a high-risk strategy."